Medic first on scene to provide aid to victim of motorcycle accident

A medic from 3rd Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment of 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade was the first responder at the scene of a motorcycle accident June 21.

While driving to the assumption of command rehearsal for Lt. Gen. Daniel B. Allyn, XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg commanding general, Sgt. Nathan Criscoe witnessed a minivan clip the rear of a motorcycle. The rider was thrown from his bike and his bike was totaled. The accident happened right as the motorcycle rider was attempting to make it through a traffic light before it turned red. The accident took place at the intersection of Randolph and Knox streets.

Criscoe witnessed the accident and immediately took action. He ran over to the minivan which contained three children and an adult driver. All passengers were unharmed and the driver told him to check on the motorcyclist. Criscoe then ran over to the cyclist and was joined by a medic who was also on his way to the rehearsal. When both Soldiers arrived at the scene of the accident, they found the cyclist seated on the pavement and alert.

Criscoe directed the cyclist to lie down and after checking the cyclist, the only visible injuries were scrapes, abrasions and bruising from hitting the pavement and rolling.

The paramedics arrived at the scene 15 minutes later.

Criscoe collected all the cyclist’s items and rode in the ambulance to Womack Army Medical Center. Criscoe attempted to get in touch with the rider’s unit and serve as a liaison. The cyclist was a new Soldier at his unit and did not have an alert roster on him and his phone was destroyed in the accident. Criscoe was able to identify the Soldier’s unit by the 82nd Airborne Division patch he was wearing. Criscoe started calling subordinate units to identify the Soldier’s chain of command. He was able to locate the Soldier’s battalion and command team after about 45 minutes.

Criscoe remained at the hospital with the Soldier’s Family and chain of command. A few days following the accident, Criscoe returned to WAMC to inquire about the Soldier and was informed that the Soldier had been released.

At the time of the accident the Soldier was wearing proper protective gear which greatly contributed to the Soldier only suffering minor injuries. Thanks to Criscoe, the Soldier was medically evaluated almost immediately after the accident, he was, escorted to the hospital and his chain of command and Family were notified.

“Criscoe displayed great concern for the well-being of a fellow Soldier and demonstrated expert knowledge in his military occupational specialty,” said 1st Lt. Eloise Jean-Bart, 3rd Battalion Airborne 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment Battalion adjutant.

“I was very proud of him. He took charge of the situation and ensured the victim was stabilized. He was confident and his training took over from there,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Paris Williams, 3rd Battalion Airborne, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment command sergeant major.